JUDICIAL CASES IN AYDIN PROVINCE AND SOME NUMERICAL DATA ON CRIMINALS INVOLVED IN THESE CASES (1876-1880)

Abstract

In the Tanzimat Era (1839-1879), reform movements with a Western approach were undertaken in the judicial system as in almost all areas in Turkey. While the religious courts (Ser'iye mahkemeleri), which conduct their trials according to the Islamic Law, continued to exist, civil courts (Nizamiye mahkemeleri) that would have their trials conducted according to newly enacted laws, were also established. In this article, judicial cases in Aydin Province between 1876 and 1880 are analyzed as they were recorded in civil courts. In this regard, varied statistical information on crimes such as murder, theft, hijacking, rape and banditry and on those who were involved in these crimes is provided. Additionally, for the cases in which the trials were completed, punishments are shown for the respective crimes.